Bridle-bit.



PATB'NTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

F. E. R. MALKB.

. BRIDLE BIT. uruornon 2mm nu. 2a. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

g l 12, J l 1/ Inventor.

a I 9 H I No.'800,381. I 4 PATENTED SEPT.26,1905.

v F. E. R. MALKB.

BRIDLE BIT.

2 SHEETS-SEEET 2.

I y; I I ,7 Witnesse vento r, W I b9 I Httomegs v FREDERICK E. R.

MALKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRlDLE-BIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed March 29, 1904.. Serial No. 200,579.

T0 aZZ whom it'mcty concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. R. MALKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inverited a new and useful Bridle-Bit, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to bridle-bits; and it has for its object to provide a bit which shall be extremely simple in construction and capable of being manufactured at a moderate expense and which by reason of its construction shall be adapted to fit the mouth of a horse in such a manner as to obviate pressure against the cheeks and upper jaw of the animal, whereby pain is inflicted and the animal rendered restive.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bit-b ar having the characteristics above referred to which shall consist of two parts or members joined flexibly together in such a manner as to be capable of flexin or bending only in what may be describe as a forward and rearward direction as contradistinguished from an upward and downward direction in the mouth of the animal.

A further object is to construct a bit-bar capable of receiving and of being used in connection with a great variety of end members or fixtures ada ted to be used in different ways and with iiferent classes of harness.

With these and other ends in view, which willreadily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyin drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, part y in section, of a bitbar constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification, which consists in constructing the bit-bar of two flexibly-connected parts or members. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are representations of the bitbar illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing the same provided with end rings or harness-attaching members of various construction. Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are representations of the flexible bit-bar illustrated in Fig. 2, the same being equipped with harness-attaching members corresponding with those illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively. 1

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar numerals of reference. I

In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1 and in Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, my 1mproved bit-bar 1 is a smooth, stra1ght, or slightly-curved bar of suitable diameter and which in cross-section may be either c1rcular or approximately elliptical. The ends of the bar 1 merge smoothly with the end members 2 2, which have been illustrated as approximately cylindrical bars divergin upwardly and converging downwardly w1t relation to the bit-bar 1'. The end members 2 2 have been illustrated as being longitudlnally perforated at 3 3 for the reception of bolts, rivets, or other suitable connectlng members, whereby the necessary means for connection with the harness may be secured or attached'to said end members.

Under the modified construction illustratedin Fig. 2 and in Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, the bit-bar is composed of two separate members 4 and 5, the former of which is bifurcated at its inner end, as shown at 6, for the reception ofa tongue 7, extending from the inner end of the member 5, the members being pivotally connected by means'of a pm 8. The parts 4 and 5 of the bit-bar are provlded at their outer ends with upwardly-diverging and downwardly-convergmg bars or members 2 2", each longitudinally perforated, as shown at 3 In Figs. 3 and 8 have been illustrated the bit-bars illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, the same being provided with slngle rings 9 at the ends thereof for the attachment of driving-reins, said rings having gaps or openings for the reception of the end members 2 and 2, respectively, 10 designating the fastening members whereby said rlngs are connected with the ends of the bit-bars.

In Figs. 4 and 9 the bit-bars illustrated In Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, have been shown provided with end rings 11, secured by means of rivets or fastenings members 12, said rings being provided with 100 s 13 to receive the cheek-straps of the, brid e and with loops 14 for the attachment of the ends of the checkrein.

In Figs. 5 and 10 the bars illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, have been shown as provided with end rings 15, having single loops 1 6 for the attachment of the ends of the cheek-straps of the bridle.

In Figs. 6 and 11 have been illustrated the bit-bars shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively,

IIO

rovided at the ends thereof with rings 17,

avmg side levers or cheelepieces 18, such as are used on coach-horses, said levers being provided with slots 19 for the attachment of dr1vmg-re1ns. The rings 17 are formed with loops 20 for the reception of the cheel -straps of the bridle, with loops 21 for the reception of the ends of the checkrein, and with eyes or holes 22 for the reception of the curb-chain hooks. The lines or reins may be connected dlrectly with the rings 17 or they may be ad Justed n slots 19 of the levers 18 at any desired dlstance from the bit-bar in order that any desired leverage may be exerted upon the curb-chain when the latter is used.

In F1gs. 7 and 12 have been shown the bitbars illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, adapted to the purposes of a riding-bit. In th1s case the sai bit-bars are provided at the ends thereof with rings 23 of a somewhat dif ferent pattern provided with downwardlyextending levers 24, having loose rings 25 for the attachment of the curb-rein. The rings 1n this instance are also provided with loops 26 for connection with the cheek-pieces or cheek-straps of the bridle, said loops 26 being spaced from the rings 23 by intermediate loops 27, which are simply for the purpose of affording access tothe ends of the bolts or other devices which serve to secure the rings in positlon upon the ends of the bit-bars. The rmgs are also provided with loops or eyes 28 for the reception of the curb-chain hooks. Under this construction the guiding-rein is connected directly with the rings 23.

I have described and illustrated a variety of forms of attachments which may be used 1n connection with either of the forms of bitbar illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawlngs. I desire it, however, to be understood that I do not limit myself to the forms or designs herein shown and illustrated, but reserve the right to use the bit-bars of my invention 1n connection with lliLIIlGS-&tl3it0l1 mg means of any description or design whatsoever, provided only that the various harness-attaching members thus used shall be constructed with parts abutting upon the ends of the obliquely-disposed members 2 2 of the bit-bar in order that proper connection may be made with said members.

Under all the various forms that my invention may assume it will be noted that the parts which extend upwardly from the end of the bit-bar diverge, so as to avoid undue pressure upon the cheeks of the animal, whereby the tender flesh will be forced against the upper teeth and lacerated or otherwise injured. On the other hand, the lower ends or downwardly-extending parts ol' the end members converge downwardly, so that the mouth of the animal will be under full eontrol without danger of injury. This applies not only to the rigid but the flexible bit-bar as well, for the simple reason that the latter is capable of flexing only in a forward and rearward direction and not upwardly or downwardly against the roof ol the mouth or the tongue of the animal. Much unnecessary pain is thus avoided, while at the same time the animals harnessed with my improved bits will be under perfect control.

Having thus described my invention, ,l claim 1. A bit-bar having obliquelydisposed end members extending upwardly and downwardly from the ends of said bit-bar, diverging upwardly and converging do\\n\\ardl v, the said end members being longitudinally perforated, bolts extending through said perforated end members, and harness-attaching means engaging said bolts adjacent to the ends of the end members.

2. A bit-bar provided at the ends thereof with obliquely-disposed end members extending upwardly and downwardly from said bit-bar, the upwardly-extending portions being divergent and the do\\nwardl extending portions being convergent, in combination with harness-attaching means having parts abutting upon and connected with the ends of said obliquely-disposed end members.

3. A bit-bar consisting of" two rigid members, a vertically-disposed pin pivotally eonnecting the inner ends of said members which are thereby enabled to flex lonrardly and rearwardly, said hingedly aumected members being provided at their outer ends with obliquely-disposed end members diverging upwardly, converging donuiwardly, and perforated longitudinally; bolts extending through said longitudinal perforations, and harness-attaching means engaging said bolts adjacent to the ends of the obliquely-disposed end members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto allixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK E. R. MAIiKID.

Witnesses GEO. C. BoUroN, DAVID E. 1V1 LLIAM s. 

